DEALING with alcohol abuse is costing each person in the Stewartry more than £300 a year.

And the total cost to the region is a whopping £45million.

The figures – highlighting a “dangerous relationship” with the demon drink – were released this week in a report by Alcohol Abuse Scotland.

Dealing with alcohol abuse cost £44.87million in Dumfries and Galloway in 2010/11, which works out at £303 per person.

The biggest chunk of that – £16.25million – was in “lost productivity”, such as people being off work or alcohol affecting their performance.

Just under £14million was spent dealing with alcohol-related crime and £7million was spent by the NHS.

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown said: “Too many Scots have a dangerous relationship with alcohol and it’s costing each of us living in Dumfries and Galloway over £300 per year. Each and every year we spend millions of pounds in our region picking up the pieces.

“The Scottish Government’s mistake has been to over-simplify the problem. We need to see a shift in society’s attitudes to drink and address the underlying causes, not just treating the symptoms.”

However, South of Scotland MSP Aileen McLeod said: “The report issued by Alcohol Focus on the financial cost of alcohol excessive consumption in Dumfries and Galloway of almost £45 million, or £303 for every person living in the region, brings the issue into sharp focus and confirms that the introduction of minimum pricing of alcohol is the right thing to do.

“However minimum pricing is not the only measure that needs to be taken to further reduce the harmful effect excessive drinking has, not only in financial terms to the public purse, but more importantly, on the every day lives of the individuals and families directly affected by excessive use of alcohol.”